River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-01-27

and why notl" Why not. re-
peat to you, may not the farmers
home toe made as neat, tasteful aud al.
tractive as possible To those who must
needs spend SO much time IN it. Why
should there not be pictures on the
wall, piano or an organ, pretty car
| pet on the floor, cheering blossoms in
the windows and order everywhere
| Why not a neat fence about the house.
IA green lawn and flower garden. il
the inmates of the home hunger for
it, 1t pays in the long run TO make
investments of this sort for they bring
hope and comfort To the hearts that
dwell there. and "a new courage and
energy to do the most possible in shar-
ing the burdens they impose. | never
could understand why father should
frown upon his pretty daughter who
wishes To be as neatly and lastly
dressed as her city cousin who comes
10 visit her. Harmonious cOlOrs, neat
ly fitting garments, made in the prevail.
ing modes. cost no more than gaudy,
homogeneous ones, and make "a vast
differ, nee in the Solf-respect felt by
wearer OF them, and her Consequent
happiness or misery. The father AMI
brother coming in from their day S
labor will smile more readily upon
the ladies' OF the household if fresh
gowns and clean collars have replaced
those soiled in the mornings tasks
Would not the mother and daughter
respond more heartily to their greet
ing If father and brothers exchange
the necessarily muddy boots for the
comfortable slippers, and brush the
hair and coat before they spend the
evening together.
Another remedy for the dis5atisfac-
ton of the farmers daughter and his
wife too, would he found, if each could
herself be IN some way producer of
money and could have entire control
OF il. 1t is such "A comfort to have
ones own pocket book. More than
one wife has said to me. not always "A
farmers wife either, Il envy you in
one respect and that is that you earn
money and can do what You please
with it. | have the best husband in
the world, but do hate to ask him
for every little thing | want" May
it not be possible in the varied resource
es of the farm to find some light, yet
remunerative work, which may be |
chiefly done, wholly managed by the |
daughter, the proceeds to be entirely |
at her disposal. Washing dishes, bak |
ing bread, ironing, sweeping, the care |
of the children are very essential in |
the home, but they do become monot- |
onus, and the change of occupation |
would in itself bringrelief. Butter max |
ing on a small scale, poultry raising, |
bee culture, the raising and canning of |
berries might be proGtably engaged in |
The sum total of the proceeds of the |
farm would be increased, and the |
father, when once he had become ac- |
cuStOmed to division of money, as |
well as of labor, would be spared |
much annoyance. The daughter would !
have business faculty trained, would I
learn the value of money, as she can
IN no other way, and healthful, help |
full occupation and diversion would be |
furnished her.
Not all the correctives | have tried
to hint at, are enough to prevent oc-
cdsional unrest and WEAKNESS. The
preacher, the merchant, the lawyer
and teacher would grow rusty and
crusty if they never took a vacation.
The necessity which comes to all work
full lives for occasional periods of rest
and change of scene is less recognized
by farmers than it should be. The
woman's sphere in the home is nee
essarily most narrow and conhning,
and she, it is, who from lack of 1t
grows cross, hopeless, morbid, insane.
That = woman's home and work are on
farm is no reason that the city and
it's attractions should be blank to
her. Here comes i'll the beautiful law
of reciprocity. Her country home is
haven of comfort, rest and er9oy
'ment to her city friend and the city
home OF her friend becomes a COM
plement of her own, supplying the
change and recreation which she
needs.
A healthy body, habits of industry,
a business tact, a strong attachment
to home, cultured mind, helpful
spirit, a loving, reverent soul, these all
may the farm bring to the girl. Need
| suggest what the girl thus developed
may bring to the farm You
who have loving daughter that is
the light and life of your home, know
what she does bring to the farm with
all her frailties, now. You who have
patient, faithful wife, a tender, self
| sacrificing mother, know what she will
bring to the farm home or the future
when one worthy of her shall ask her
to share and bless it.